Back to School 1998

American Skandia conducted their own campaign to outfit some of the more than 100 children outfitted at Lafayette School.

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Members of the Corporate Volunteer Council filled the Lafayette School gym and spelled out their "Back to School" mission in preparation for distributing over 100 new school outfits.

Lafayette School in Shelton was chosen by the Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) as the 1998 BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES FOR KIDS (BTSCFK) school. The goal of the project is to provide new clothes to underprivileged children at the start of the school year. Once a CVC member agrees to outfit a child, they are given the child’s profile sheet which consists of the youngster’s first name, clothing sizes, grade, favorite color, sports team, and TV character. On August 26, the CVC met in Lafayette School gym to personally present 103 children with a box full of clothing: two complete outfits, a winter coat, sneakers/shoes and a backpack filled with school supplies. Lafayette School has been the BTSCFK school adopted by the CVC.

According to Barbara Cesaroni, Principal of Lafayette, "I think this was an outstanding project. It definitely has enhanced the children’s self esteem. I’ve always told my kids that they are the best behaved, best looking and the smartest kids and now they are the best dressed - this was such a wonderful project and we are very appreciative and thankful that the CVC continues to foster this project every year."

In 1996, Irving School in Derby was the initial BTSCFK project. Paul Landolfi, Irving Principal said, "I can’t believe that the CVC was able to clothe 112 children. I never dreamed it would be this successful, the CVC did a fantastic job, it’s like Christmas in August for these kids."

In 1997, Lincoln-Hayes School in Ansonia was the second year for the project. Peter Sosnovich, Principal said, "I’ve been in education for more than 30 years and normally there are a lot of kids absent on the first few days of school. This year, though, was the first time in all my years in education that I saw 100% attendance of the first day of school. He continued. "I can only relate the attendance to the positive impact that this project had on the kids and their families."

In just three years, a total of 338 Valley school children have been outfitted by the CVC and hundreds of dollars donated to their schools. The total dollar value of these projects was $52,500. Cory Draskovic of GE Supply, Co-Chair of the CVC and Chair commented: "The Corporate Volunteer Council members share a strong commitment to the communities where their companies are located, and this project is one example of that commitment."

Volunteer Action Center

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